SB 749 · 2023-2024 · Introduced in Senate
No Partisan Advantage in Elections.
"No Partisan Advantage in Elections." Read that title again. Sounds like the kind of bill everyone should support, right? Who could be against removing partisan advantage from our elections?
Here's what the bill actually does. It restructures the State Board of Elections and all 100 county boards of elections to shift appointment power away from the governor and toward the legislature. The state board goes from 5 members to 8, evenly split between parties... which sounds fair until you realize an evenly split board is designed to deadlock. And when it deadlocks, the disputes get resolved by courts that the legislature helped shape. Governor Cooper called it an unconstitutional power grab. He vetoed it. The supermajority overrode him.
Oh, and tucked inside this elections bill? Provisions restructuring the Environmental Management Commission and the Board of Transportation. Because obviously those belong in an elections bill.
The vote was 30-19 in the Senate and 72-44 in the House. Straight party line override. The title says "no partisan advantage." The bill was introduced by Republicans, passed by only Republicans, and shifts power from a Democratic governor to a Republican legislature. That's the whole game in one bill title.
Status
Signed into law (veto overridden)
Sponsors
Stowaway Provisions
An elections restructuring bill contains unrelated provisions about Environmental Management Commission appointments, Board of Transportation changes, and vehicle registration corrections that have nothing to do with elections.
The bill's stated purpose: Restructuring North Carolina's election boards by changing appointment processes, moving from 5 to 8 members on the State Board of Elections, transferring appointment authority from Governor to General Assembly, and related election administration changes
What was hidden inside: Part VI includes changes to Environmental Management Commission composition and chair election requirements, Board of Transportation chair election requirements, Coastal Resources Commission changes, North Carolina Railroad Board changes, and corrections to vehicle registration statutes (GS 20-30)
Sources
The Vote
10/10/2023 1:09 PM · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. Motion 11 Veto Override · Senate
Senate Vote · Passed 30–19
✓ Override succeeded: 30 votes (needed 30)
Party Breakdown
10/10/2023 1:42 PM · No Partisan Advantage in Elections. Veto Override · House
House Vote · Passed 72–44
✓ Override succeeded: 72 votes (needed 72)
Party Breakdown